Electric torch lighter



Feb. 7, C. E @Amyy ELECTRIC TORCH LIGHTER Filed Aug. ll, 1938 r Alulll-zim Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in a stationary tool or device to cause automatic ignition of torches used in electric welding.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide an inclined holder for the torch arranged to be moved vertically for disposing the torch at a speciiied inclination relative to the arc of ignition and relative to certain deilecting-plates for controlling ignition flashes.

l0 Another object is to provide such a mounting for the movable electrode that its axis, during operation, will be maintained parallel with the axis of the stationary electrode.

The invention includes a pair of electrodes disposed in a vertical plane for avoiding undue friction and permitting uniform lubrication of the movable electrode.

Also the invention includes a vertically disposed plunger-bar movable by weight of the torch held thereby for causing ignition of the torch.

A further object has been to provide a housing for the several operating parts to protect the flash and ignition from the wind and to provide a single passageway for the outward movement of any excess products of combustion.

Also it has been an object to employ few and simple parts which will operate practically and accurately and may be conveniently manufactured at a moderate cost.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention presents a new and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that changes may be made in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details, said changes being within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view on line I-I of Fig. 2, showing operating parts of the torch igniter. Fig. 2 is a view of the device ln vertical section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device.

Referring now to the drawing for a particular description, I provide an upright casing or housing 4, preferably of rectangular form, having an opening 5 in its top and provided with a pair of parallel, inclined deflecting-plates at two opposed edges indicated at 6 and 1, said plates respectively projecting outwardly and inwardly of the casing as shown in the drawing.

Numeral 8 indicates a tubular guide which extends into the top of the casing, this guide being disposed in a vertical position.

Near the top of the casing is disposed a stationary electrode 9, said electrode being secured (Cl. 21S-32) to a stationary tubular support IU and being electrically energized as shown in the drawing.

Numeral II indicates a movable electrically energized electrode provided with a tubular jacket or housing I2, said electrode being disposed below I and in vertical alignment with the stationary electrode 9 and, together with the tubular housing l2 being adapted to have free sliding movements in a stationary sleeve I4, said sleeve being provided, longitudinally with a slot I5openngv10 on the interior of the casing; and this sleeve I4 has a length sufcient to receive the free endportion of the electrode 'I. Also the slot I5, preferably, extends to the Lipper end of said sleeve I4.

Numeral IB indicates a spring suitably insu-l5 lated and attached to the casing, said spring being secured to the tubular housing I 2 of the movable electrode.

Any suitable electric conductors may be used for energizing the two electrodes, and no par-:520 ticular description is considered necessary, except to state that the resistant electric coil I 'I wound upon the insulated core I8 has a project. ing part I9 of spiral form attached to the tubular jacket I2, said part I9 being exible and oper- 25 ating simply as an electrical conductor and not resisting the slidable movements of the electrode H in an appreciable degree.

Numeral 2B indicates a rock-bar mounted between its ends to have swinging movements on 30 a horizontal pivot-pin 2|.

Numeral 22 indicates a vertically movable plunger-bar mounted in the tubular guide 8 and provided with an inclined concave cap 23 for supporting a torch 24.

The pivotal mounting of the plunger-bar upon one end of the rock-bar is indicated at 24, and the opposite end of the rock-bar normally engages a roller 25 which is mounted on the lower end of the tubular holder I2 of the movable elec- 40 trode.

As thus described it will be appreciated that the device consists of few parts, and therefore it may be manufactured at a moderate cost. The spring is of such proportions that it normally 45 will move the electrode II to its lowermost position in the slotted sleeve I4 and will cause the plunger-bar to slide upwardly to its normal position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. However, this spring I6 is comparatively weak, and when 50 the torch is placed on the cap 23 the weight of the torch will cause the plunger-bar to slide downwardly, and the electrode II will coincidently slide upwardly.

In operation, when the torch 24' is placed upon 55 the cap 23 its inclined position will be in line with the arc formed by the electrodes, approximately parallel' with the plates 6 and 1, said plates, together with the opening 5 in the top of the casing, forming a passageway for the flash which immediately occurs, and thereby tending to relieve other parts of the device from the effects of excessive heat. Since the electrodes are disposed in line vertically, the movable electrode will be lubricated automatically since the dust worn away from said electrodes by repeated ignitions will, in part, be deposited in the sleeve i4. Since the cap 23 is disposed at a suitable inclination it operates as a correct guide for the operator When handling the torch so ,that the gas therefrom will immediately become ignited and this feature proves to be of advantage to an operator since both handsare free for carrying on the work of welding.

I claim as my invention,-

V1. An electrical-torch ignition device comprising an upright rectangular casing having an opening in its top with parallel deflecting-plates extending inclinedly from opposed edges of said opening, and provided with a vertical, tubular guide, an energized, vertically disposed .stationary Yelectrode in the casing, a stationary, slotted sleeve in the casing, a second energized electrode, said second electrode being disposed in the vertical plane below the first named electrode and slidingly mounted in the sleeve, a rock-bar in the casing adjacent the second electrode, a plungerbar in the tubular guide engaging the rock-bar `and provided with a torch-supporting cap and .adapted to be moved for moving the rock-bar to cause a movement of the second electrode toward therst named electrode.

2. An electrical torch ignition device comprising, in combination with anupright, rectangular 'casing having an opening in its top, va slotted sleeve in the casing secured to a wall thereof, a

Ystationary energized electrode in the casing and extending into the slotted sleeve, a second energized electrode disposed in thelslotted sleeve with its longitudinal axis in line with the longitudinal axis of the first named electrode, a rockbar movable for moving the second electrode toward the first named electrode, and a plungerbar movable through the top of the casing for moving the rock-bar, said plunger-bar being provided with an inclined torch-holding cap extending in line with the electrodes and opening in the top of said casing.

3. In an electrical torch ignition device, a casing having an opening in its top and parallel delecting plates at the edges of the opening extending inclinedly thereof, a stationary vertically disposed sleeve in the casing provided with a vertical slot, a stationary energized electrode extending into the sleeve, a second energized electrode, said second electrode being slidingly mounted in the sleeve and disposed below the iirst named electrode, a rock-bar having an end-portion disposed below the second electrode, a plunger-bar extending through the tcp of the casing and engaging an end-portion of the rockbar and adapted to be moved for actuating the rock-bar to cause the second electrode to move toward the rst named electrode, said plungerbar being provided with a cap of concave form for supporting a torch thereon and inclined toward said opening and said electrodes.

4. An electrical torch lighting device comprising a casing having an opening in its top with deecting-plates to provide an inclined passageway into the casing, a slotted sleeve in the casing in line with the inclined passageway, an energized stationary vertically-disposed electrode in the sleeve, a slidably mounted energized electrode inthe sleeve in line with the stationary electrode, a rock-bar movable for moving the slidable electrode toward the stationary electrode, and a vplunger-bar movable into thecasing for moving said rock-bar, said plunger-bar having an inclined torch-holding cap disposed in line with said passageway and said sleeve.

CLARENCE E. CADY. 

